Omer Asik is a man of few words, and the veteran center didn’t need many to describe his feelings about being back with the Bulls.

His smile said it all.

“An unbelievable two years,” said Asik, who began his career with the Bulls and played two seasons from 2010-12. “I’m really happy to be back.”

Asik said this despite executive vice president John Paxson emphasizing that playing time won’t be plentiful for the veterans acquired in last week’s trade of Nikola Mirotic to the Pelicans. Asik, 31, played in 14 of 50 games with the Pelicans this season.

In his first year with the Pelicans in 2014-15, Asik averaged 7.3 points and 9.8 rebounds while starting 76 games and re-signed for five years and $60 million that summer. But he battled injuries and an infection that ultimately was diagnosed as Crohn’s disease. That, plus the arrival of DeMarcus Cousins, pushed him out of the rotation.

“The first year, we won 45 games and (made) the playoffs,” Asik said. “After some changes, it didn’t go the way I wanted it to go.

“Whenever I played against (the Bulls) they were always competitive. They are really young and playing hard, so it will be good to see. I’m not young anymore. As much as they need me, I’ll be ready.”

Asik admitted to going through “a tough time” last year with his illness before it got diagnosed properly this training camp. He has regained the weight he lost and said he feels “much better.”

Even if the Bulls trade Robin Lopez by Thursday’s deadline, the big-man rotation could be Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis, Cristiano Felicio and Paul Zipser. Coach Fred Hoiberg did say he would not hesitate to use Asik if needed.

No go: Markkanen’s commercial flight to Sacramento for Monday’s game against the Kings was canceled Sunday. Rather than having the rookie fly four hours on a game day and then play without the benefit of the morning shootaround, the Bulls opted to keep Markkanen in Chicago.

That means Markkanen, who had stayed behind as he and his wife welcomed a baby boy, will miss his third straight game Monday. Hoiberg had said Markkanen would start against the Kings. Now, Zipser will.

The Bulls will play four straight home games before the All-Star break following this West Coast trip.

Layups: In an oddity, the Bulls and Mavericks practiced next to each other at USC on Sunday, with a thick partition separating the teams. Future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki spent time chatting with Bulls personnel. … Hoiberg said Kris Dunn, out since Jan. 17 with a concussion, rode a stationary bike and is “feeling better.”